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Tuesday, January 19, 2010

CAS50 Teal!

This week's CAS challenge is to use teal, white, and one other color. I chose black. Just keepin' it simple, folks.

First up, I used the new SU two-step bird punch, which I knew I HAD to have the first time I laid eyes on it. It doesn't get any cooler than this punch, folks...for those of us who don't have die cut systems, at least.

I punched the bird and branch in white and put them on a scalloped teal panel with the quotation from Emily Dickinson on the white card base in black ink. Isn't that quotation THE BEST! I just love ol' Emily; she had quite the way with words.

Anyway, the scallops are accented with small half pearls, which were also used for the bird's eye. Putting a big, clunky quotation on the front of the card like that is a design challenge, but I like how the black-on-white balances the almost equally sized bird and branch on the solid teal, and adding the pearls made a huge difference, softening the division between the heavy teal and bright white.

At least that's my take on it.

Next up is a card that practically made itself. The Echoes of Kindness set is an unusual one for me, but I absolutely adore it. The artwork is so loose yet so elegant. I have NEVER satisfactorily colored an image like this, so I don't even try anymore. Just stamp it in a single color and work it, baby. So much easier for us artistically challenged stampers.

The top border is punched with a Martha Stewart punch that reminds me a bit of fancy garden lattice. The white satin ribbon softens the dark teal nicely and the knot balances on the left balances the image on the right.

BTW, I used Ancient Page Deep Harbor instead of SU's taken with teal, which stamps really, really dark for me. The deep harbor is actually a better match for the paper than SU's ink. I've noticed a similar darkness in bravo burgundy ink.

This was a great challenge, and if you haven't played along yet, give it a try. Teal is such a versatile color. It can go cute or elegant, soft or strong.

I love that bird punch too. In fact I'm ordering it today when I place my SU order.

It looks great in all white against the black background. I have that same sentiment stamp. I do like how it balances the "heavier" top of the card. The layout on the second card is pretty. And I like that you were able to use the line stamp without feeling the need to color it. That's a big challenge for me.

Love these----so clean, crisp, elegant! The Emily Dickinson quote is from a set called Friend to Friend....although I think it might have been in another set as well! Thanks for your wonderful inspiration!

I agree with you about colouring those types of flowers. With my HA cling flower in a similar style, I actually cut the flower away from the stem so that I can ink and stamp them separately, or together, if I want.

Susan!! Why, oh why, do you do these things to me??!! I've been wanting that bird punch something fierce - but I've resisted so far BUT then you go and put your "white" touch to it and now it just HAS to come live with me - You even made me like teal (we haven't been friends for a LONG time now) -

I find teal a very hard colour to work with but your examples really show how to use it well. I like the second card best - such a lovely flower image and I have just bought the MS punch!!BTW if YOU are artistically challenged then I am gonna go shoot myself because there is just no hope left for mere mortals like me (I am joking as I don't own a gun!!!!)TFS .... you always make my day with your amazing cards anad funny, informative commentaries.